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Astros-Marlins Preview

Aug 9, 2009 - 11:44 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Houston (54-56) at Florida (57-53), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Following a dreadful series against the worst team in the NL East, a convincing sweep of the division's best club has the Florida Marlins feeling optimistic.

After ending a four-series losing streak, the Houston Astros can finally say the same.

The Marlins are back in the East race after three road victories over the World Series champions, and they'll look to win their sixth straight at home over the Astros on Monday night.

Nine wins in 12 games from July 20-Aug. 2 had Florida (58-53) gaining ground in the division and wild card races, and a three-game series with major league-worst Washington was on tap.

The Marlins, though, didn't play anything like the club that won its first nine meetings with the Nationals. Washington scored 23 runs during a three-game sweep that dropped Florida seven games behind first-place Philadelphia.

The Marlins bounced back quickly, however. Florida took all three contests from the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park over the weekend, capping the series with a 12-3 victory Sunday.

"In this position, you want to sweep," said third basemen Wes Helms, who hit a two-run homer. "The sweep rescued us big time. We could've left here eight to 10 games out."

Helms went 2 for 6 for his sixth multihit game of the season, an accomplishment that pales in comparison to teammate Chris Coghlan. The rookie outfielder continued his recent tear Sunday, going 4 for 6 and driving in two runs to set a club record with his eighth straight multihit effort.

Coghlan has batted .500 with six RBIs during that stretch.

Houston (55-56) had lost nine of 12 heading into a series with Milwaukee, one of the three teams it was chasing in the NL Central, on Friday.

The Astros, though, moved past the Brewers by taking two of three. Wandy Rodriguez threw seven innings and Geoff Blum hit a two-run homer in a 2-0 victory Sunday in the decisive finale.

"We expected Wandy to pitch well, but I don't think any of us expected him to go that deep into the game," Blum said of Rodriguez, who hadn't pitched in eight days due to a strained hamstring.

The Astros are six back of St. Louis in the Central, the same deficit they face behind Colorado and San Francisco for the wild card. Three teams are between Houston and the Rockies and Giants, including the Marlins.

Florida, three games out of the wild card, has taken five straight from Houston at Land Shark Stadium since Aug. 4, 2007.

To extend that streak, it may need a better effort from Rick VandenHurk (1-1, 4.29 ERA) than he provided in his last start. The right-hander gave up five runs and seven hits - three homers - in four innings of a 5-4 loss at Washington on Wednesday.

VandenHurk has never faced the Astros.

Former Marlin Brian Moehler (7-7, 5.23) gets the ball for Houston as he tries to bounce back from a rough outing. He gave up seven runs over six innings of a 10-6 home loss to San Francisco on Wednesday.

Moehler is 2-6 with a 6.28 ERA at Minute Maid Park, but 5-1 with a 3.91 ERA on the road this season. He has never started against Florida, pitching three scoreless innings of relief in two appearances versus the Marlins.